Puppet Master

You Aren't Alone Anymore

Izuku sat at the kitchen table staring down at a cup of tea. Mary Lou said that it is supposed to be a stress-relieving tea. After last week they ended up buying a box of it. Izuku had to admit, it did help. So why was he drinking it today? Eraser said that he and Shinsou were coming over to discuss something VERY important. Izuku couldn't help but think of the worst. Was his time here already up? Were they going to throw him in jail? Send him back to Inko? Send him to a black market organ ring never to be heard from again?! Izuku shook his head and took another sip of the tea.

*Knock Knock Knock*

Izuku jumped. He looked at the door. Izuku slipped out of his chair and let in Eraser and Shinsou.

"Yo." Shinsou walked right in.

"Hey, kid," Eraser followed suit.

Izuku locked the door behind them and joined the two who were already getting seated at the table. Right to business then. Izuku gave them a wide girth as he rounded to his side of the table and sat down, once again cradling his cup in his hands. He waited.

"Kid," Izuku looked up, "you are going to be thirteen soon." Izuku took a long, hard blink at the man. "That means a year until high school for most kids. There is a chance that your new home won't be able to homeschool you and/or won't want heroes in and out of their house every single day to teach you. That means that you will probably be attending a public school of some sort." Izuku shivered. "Do you know what you want to do when you grow older?" Izuku glanced up at the man and bit his lip.

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'We won't tell you not to speak.'Or beat you, or use your quirk. Sometimes, you need to say what is on your mind.'

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Izuku took another sip of the tea, using the cup to hide the lower half of his face.

"I- I didn't t- th- think that I- I would l- last that l- long..."

There was a beat. At first, Izuku thought that the man wouldn't reply.

"But you did."

Izuku looked down at his tea. I did, didn't I? I survived. I'm alive.

"Kid you look like that is the first time you've been told that you are living and breathing right now." Izuku averted his eyes. "My next question is, do you want to be a hero?" Izuku looked back up at the man.

"W- wh- what?"

Eraser nodded. "Do you want to be a hero?" Izuku furrowed his eyebrows. Honestly, he doesn't know. Sure, he would like to do that. He could probably bring back Golden Whip. But... can he? He would technically be quirkless since he obviously wouldn't be using his quirk. He was a vigilante without it so it isn't impossible... "I- Is- Maybe?" Eraser nodded. "I, for one, think that you would be a great hero." Izuku's eyes widened. He just got a COMPLIMENT from Eraserhead. "Hitoshi has been training to go to UA. If you want, you could join us during our weekly training."

"B- b- but I w- won't be h- here much l- longer," Izuku refuted.

"So? We can make it arranged."

That's when it clicked. This wasn't just 'hero training.' This was a promise to stay in touch even when Izuku goes off to a new family. This was a promise that Izuku did not have to give up his friendship with Shinsou. This was a reassurance under the guise of 'hero training.' Outwardly, they were saying that they would train to be heroes. Inwardly, they were saying that they would train to be heroes together. Izuku would not have to say goodbye. Izuku squeezed the cup in his hands.

"Do you want to join us?" Shinsou asked. Izuku looked up with a new sense of determination. And, without stuttering or faltering, he gave a sharp nod and said: